Data: 13.01.2026

Oliwia Ziółkowska (CAMK,PL)

Modeling evolution and pulsation of classical Cepheids

Streszczenie:
Classical Cepheids are fundamental laboratories for testing stellar evolution and pulsation theory, yet their helium-burning evolutionary phase remains difficult to model. In this talk, I present a systematic investigation of how free parameters in modern one-dimensional stellar evolution code (MESA) affect the structure and evolution of Cepheid-mass stars. Using extensive grids of MESA models spanning the full mass and metallicity range of classical Cepheids, I quantify uncertainties in evolutionary tracks, blue-loop morphology, ages, and surface abundances arising from variations in microphysics, convective boundary treatments, and numerical setup. I show that these uncertainties are largest during core helium burning and can rival current observational errors. I then discuss ongoing work combining evolutionary and pulsation modeling of double-lined eclipsing binaries containing Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which provide precise masses and radii. These systems offer powerful constraints on Cepheid physics and help bridge stellar evolution, pulsation, and observations.